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Arkansas Lawmakers to Meet for Session on Defense Project

3 min read

LITTLE ROCK — A little over a month after wrapping up their regular session, Arkansas lawmakers are returning to the Capitol this week to take up an incentive package aimed at luring a major defense project to the state.

The House and Senate are set to convene Tuesday for the special session focused on the effort to help Lockheed Martin land the contract for its Camden facility. Aside from the proposed “super-project,” lawmakers are looking at moving up the state’s primary and changing its driving while intoxicated law to avoid a loss of federal highway funds.

Here’s a look at the top issues facing the Legislature during this week’s special session:

DEFENSE PROJECT

The top item on the agenda is Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s proposal to issue $87 million in bonds aimed at helping Lockheed Martin win the contract to produce a new line of tactical vehicles that will replace the Humvee. Most of the money would go toward equipment and infrastructure at the company’s Camden facility, and the bonds would only be issued if Lockheed wins the contract.

If approved by lawmakers, this will mark the second time the state has issued bonds under a 2004 constitutional amendment intended to help close the deal on major economic projects. Lawmakers two years ago approved $125 million in financing for a steel mill in east Arkansas under the same amendment.

Hutchinson’s office has said the bonds would be paid off by the state over 15 to 20 years, depending on the market. Legislative leaders say they expect widespread support for the bond package.

SEC PRIMARY

An effort to move up Arkansas’ primary as part of a regional nominating contest among southeastern states is being revived this session. Dubbed the “SEC primary,” the proposal would move Arkansas’ primary from May to March.

Unlike a proposal that stalled in the Legislature earlier this year, this would move all of the nominating contests and non-partisan judicial races — not just the presidential primary. It also includes a plan to move Arkansas’ legislative session next year from February to April.

AGENCY SHUFFLE

Hutchinson is also asking lawmakers to approve his plan to merge some smaller agencies, a move that he says will save the state $10 to $12 million over the next five years by eliminating redundant positions.

Under the plan, the Department of Rural Services and the Science and Technology Authority will be merged into the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Hutchinson is also calling for merging the Division of Land Survey into the Geographic Information Office and the Arkansas Building Authority into the Department of Finance and Administration.

DWI LAW

Highway officials say a change in state law is needed after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors must show intent in DWI cases, a ruling that they say could risk more than $50 million in federal transportation funding.

Highway officials say the court’s interpretation likely violates requirements the state has to meet in its DWI laws to receive some federal transportation funding. Lawmakers say the change would make it clear that DWI is a “strict scrutiny” offense, meaning prosecutors won’t have to show intent.

THE REST

The session’s agenda also includes a handful of other non-controversial items. They include changing state law to align with potential changes in federal law regarding farm equipment traffic on a new section of interstate highway in northeast Arkansas.

Lawmakers are also expected to pass a resolution honoring Sonny Smith, a reserve deputy with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office who was fatally shot earlier this month while responding to a reported burglary.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed.)

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